Thrash legends Exodus are entering a bold new chapter, as guitarist Gary Holt has announced that their upcoming album will be mixed by the acclaimed Mark Lewis (Megadeth, Whitechapel). The move marks the first time in 28 years that the band has stepped outside their sonic “comfort zone” with longtime collaborator Andy Sneap. This new direction comes as the band is also fronted once again by vocalist Rob Dukes, who has called the new material the “best thing I’ve ever done with Exodus.“
The news was revealed in a social media post from Holt on Monday, September 15. After catching up with his “dear friend” Andy Sneap over dinner, Holt shared the update on the band’s new record, which is tentatively scheduled for an early 2026 release via Napalm Records.
His full post reads:
“ALWAYS awesome when I run in to my dear friend and long time collaborator @andysneap ! @judaspriest and @slayerbandofficial were rehearsing in the same city so we got to catch up over dinner! New @exodusbandofficial mix by @marklewis720 is almost done and it’s ENORMOUS! Can’t wait to unleash this beast! First album since 97 to mix with someone else, and it’s crushing. Andy said it’s time to venture out of our comfort zone and it’s amazing. Mark has CRUSHED IT!”
The new sonic direction is paired with the return of vocalist Rob Dukes, who is fronting the band on a studio album for the first time since 2010’s Exhibit B: The Human Condition. In a recent interview, Dukes was equally enthusiastic about the new material.
“It’s killer. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done with Exodus,” he said. “I thought Exhibit B was probably some of my best work, and I think this tops it. It’s so different than what we’ve done. We’ve definitely stepped outside the box a little bit and tried a few different things and it worked well… It’s fast. it’s dark, it’s awesome, man.”
With both Holt and Dukes hyping the new material as some of their best ever, anticipation is now incredibly high for the next chapter in the long and influential history of Exodus.
